Two-time Olympian Nick Symmonds, whose Runners World blog post last week stating that he supported LGBT rights but would remain silent on the issue out of respect for Russia's laws was met with mixed reaction, won the silver medal at the World Championships held in Russia on Tuesday.

More importantly, rather than "silently dedicating his win" to gays and lesbians as he previously said he would, Symmonds used his voice and spoke out on Russian soil in support of the LGBT community.

US middle distance runner Nick Symmonds dedicated his 800-meter silver medal at the world athletics championships Tuesday to his gay and lesbian friends back home, becoming the first athlete to openly criticize Russia's controversial anti-gay law on the country's soil.

"As much as I can speak out about it, I believe that all humans deserve equality as however God made them," he told R-Sport after running a 1:43.55 at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. "Whether you're gay, straight, black, white, we all deserve the same rights. If there's anything I can do to champion the cause and further it, I will, shy of getting arrested."

This is the kind of bravery we need from our allies. The use of your voice in support of the LGBT community is very much appreciated and we hope other athletes will follow suit.

I applaud Nick for making a positive statement and stepping up and speaking out as a straight ally. It's his decision on how far he wishes to push the issue. I hope his decision inspires many others to shine the spotlight on the repressive and idiotic laws against LGBTQ folks. Then let the rest of the world realize what a mistake it was to allow a such a backwards country to host the Olympics, hope for a great medal count from all Gay athletes, and stay out of and disinvest from Putin's Russia until they catch up.